Pet Wellness Exam

Pet Wellness Exam

Your pet can’t always tell you where it hurts. A comprehensive physical exam at Beaumont Animal Hospital allows our doctor to compile a list of clues that can help uncover a problem. Early detection and treatment are essential to avoid undue suffering and to prolong the quality and longevity of your pet’s life.

At home, watch for subtle changes in your pet’s body weight, appetite, water intake, urination, and bowel habits, as well as general attitude and activity level. These changes may be signs of medical problems. Lumps and bumps under the skin may seem harmless but can be cancerous. Ear infections, abscessed teeth, and gum disease are common, painful conditions that may not become obvious until seriously advanced.

A comprehensive physical exam is a tool to evaluate your dog’s, cat’s, or other pet’s health status and to help you make informed decisions about the care of your special companion.

The veterinarian and staff at Beaumont Animal Hospital believe that prevention is the key to your pet’s long-term health. We recommend thorough, routine wellness exams, vaccinations, regular blood testing, deworming, and fecal checks, as well as medications to prevent heartworm, fleas, and ticks. Our veterinarian and staff members stay current with all the latest veterinary innovations to ensure your pet receives the best care possible.

Most of the tests we offer at Beaumont Animal Hospital can be done during your pet’s regular exam. This is our chance to get to know your pet, assess your pet’s overall health, discuss any changes we see, update you on advancements in veterinary care, and for you to discuss any concerns or questions you may have.

The wellness exam includes the following:

• Examine your pet’s teeth, throat, and oral cavity
• Check your pet’s vision and examine the eyes
• Examine the ears for infection, ear mites, allergic reactions,s, and other related health issues
• Examine the respiratory system
• Assess your pet’s heart
• Test your pet’s reflexes
• Palpate lymph nodes and abdomen
• Inspect the skin
• Palpate joints and muscles for arthritis and other orthopedic conditions

Routine Blood Work: A complete physical includes a heartworm test and parasite screening and should include a full blood workup. Not only can a full chemistry panel and complete blood count identify the presence of underlying disease processes, but these tests help create a baseline should your pet become ill between routine examinations. Additionally, blood work is necessary if your veterinarian recommends a dental cleaning, removal of a skin mass, or any other procedure that requires anesthesia.

We also recommend complete blood testing annually for all pets over the age of seven.

Details of Puppy Wellness

A new puppy is an exciting time. It is also the perfect time to start your new family member off on the right paw. It is important that your puppy be seen by a veterinarian as early as possible.

In order to establish proper immunity to many common diseases, some of which may be life-threatening, it is vital that puppies receive at least three sets of vaccinations 3-4 weeks apart and that the final booster is given after 15 weeks.

• During the Puppy visits, the general health of your new addition is evaluated by your veterinarian, the first set of vaccinations is administered, a fecal (stool) sample is screened for intestinal parasites, and your puppy is dewormed as needed.
• In order to establish proper immunity to many common diseases, some of which may be life-threatening, it is vital that puppies receive at least two sets of vaccinations 3-4 weeks apart and that the final booster is given after 15 weeks of age.
• We recommend a distemper/parvo combination at the first visit and every 3-4 weeks thereafter until the puppy is at least 15 weeks old. The bordetella (kennel cough) vaccine is administered at approximately 12 weeks of age and again at 15-16 weeks of age.
• Nearly all puppies are born with intestinal parasites, some of which can be transmitted to people. At the puppy visits, a fecal sample is screened for the presence of intestinal parasites. A broad-spectrum dewormer is administered to rid your puppy of the most commonly seen intestinal parasites. Your veterinarian will also help you determine the best protocol.

Details of Kitten Wellness

During the kitten visits, the general health of your new addition is evaluated by your veterinarian, the first set of vaccinations is administered, a fecal (stool) sample is screened for intestinal parasites, and your kitten is dewormed.

In order to establish proper immunity to many common diseases, some of which may be life-threatening, it is vital that kittens receive at least three sets of vaccinations 3-4 weeks apart and that the final booster is given after 15 weeks.

For kittens, we recommend the upper respiratory (“distemper”) combination at the first visit and every 3-4 weeks thereafter until the kitten is at least 15 weeks old. If the kitten is allowed outdoors, the feline leukemia vaccination is given at approximately 12 weeks of age and again at 15-16 weeks of age. Kittens also receive the Rabies vaccination at 15-16 weeks of age.

Nearly all kittens are born with intestinal parasites, some of which can be transmitted to people. At the kitten visits, a fecal sample is screened for the presence of intestinal parasites. A broad-spectrum dewormer is administered to rid your kitten of the most commonly seen intestinal parasites.

Your veterinarian will also help you determine the best protocol to protect against other common parasites, such as fleas, ticks, and heartworms. We recommend all animals receive monthly heartworm preventative year-round and flea/tick preventative from March through October.

• We realize that even experienced pet owners may have many questions about their new kitten. Your veterinarian will be happy to discuss behavior modification, the introduction of your kitten to other pets, nutrition, and any other questions that may arise.